Juvenile Open-Angle Glaucoma: Demographic and Clinical Profile from a Tertiary Eye Care Center in Northern India
Journal of Ophthalmic and Optometric Sciences,
Vol. 9 No. 2 (2025),
5 Farvardin 2025,
Page 10-15
https://doi.org/10.22037/joos.v9i2.49104
Purpose: To evaluate the demographic and clinical characteristics of juvenile open-angle glaucoma (JOAG) patients presenting to a tertiary eye care center in northern India.
Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of medical records of patients aged 5–35 years diagnosed with JOAG. Data collected included age, sex, family history, refractive error, best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), cup-to-disc ratio, optic disc changes, retinal nerve fiber layer findings, and visual field indices. Treatment status, prior surgeries, and associations with systemic illness were also analyzed.
Results: A total of 79 patients (158 eyes) were included. The majority was male, and most cases were bilateral. Myopia was the predominant refractive error. At presentation, many patients had advanced optic disc cupping and significant visual field loss, often despite ongoing anti-glaucoma medication. Mean IOP was markedly elevated, and several eyes had undergone prior trabeculectomy. Family history of glaucoma was noted in a subset of patients. Systemic comorbidities were infrequent.
Conclusion: JOAG in this cohort predominantly affected young males and was strongly associated with myopia and advanced disease at presentation. The findings highlight the aggressive nature of JOAG and the need for early diagnosis, vigilant screening of at-risk individuals, and timely surgical intervention to prevent irreversible visual disability.